Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

sonic actions spring , recognised as much in the merest trifles of daily life between man and man , as in that world-wide magnanimity which extends the hand of friendship and brotherly help to the greatest stranger , and to the wildest foreigner , it surely shows the wisdom of our

Christian forefathers who chose for their earthly star of guidance and for their earthly standard of action , that most holy and immortal saint who is rightly denominated the " Apostle of Love . " And to us Masons , when we rightly regard

him as our patron , it will become a salutary exercise to study his life and teaching , that we may follow the one and imitate the other , so that whether we regard him as a man thoroughl y devoted to that truth which came down from

Heaven , we can seek to be embodied with the same spirit of earnest devotion , or whether we look at him labouring ( as tradition tells us ) in the dark mines of Patmos , suflering persecutions , we can copy his example of patience in tribulation , and , through the darkness of this world ' s

mystery , see , as he did , glimpses of the Grand Lodge above , a vision of the highest life in the very presence of the Great Architect Himself , or whether again , we look at that other scene which is handed down , when In his feeble old age , all capacity for labour and teaching was gone

when no strength was left to guide his tottering steps , when he was carried on the shoulders of men through the ranks of his converts and disciples , and , like a general on the battle field , who feels his life blood flowing fast , spends his remaining strength in encouraging his men , he

continually repeated without change , and reiterated without weariness , that new commandment which summoned up one great part of his Master ' s will , "Little Children , love one another , " I say , we can surely remember , in all our conflicts that this is the first and the last , the Alpha

and the Omega , of all our great duty to God and man ! Well , then , brethren , if as we are gathered here , we feel proud to be under his patronage , let us also feel proud to be under his all-ruling precept , and if we take delight in immortalizing him at the festive board , let us take equal delight

in honouring him by repeating his actions in our daily lives , then shall we be celebrating with due honour and decorum the immortal memory of so sublime a saint , and then may we boldly let our aspirations ascend in silence to the ears of our Supreme Ruler , whilst we invoke His aid in all

our deeds of love , his acceptance of all our acts of charity . Bro . T . G . Andrews , Secretary , was called upon by the W . M . to propose " Thc Masonic Charities , " and in doing so said I feel it a great honour to propose this toast , embodying as it does the very essence ofthe principles of

Freemasonry , and this being the first time that a junior has had the opportunity of proposing such a toast . At the sametime I feel my inability to put the proposition before you in such terms as I could wish to do . Prior to my initiation I had heard something in the outer world , that you

collected money to aid and assist your brethren in one way or other . Now that I am in the secret I know how much good is done amongst Masons in innumerable ways , but we can point the public enquirer to those noble Royal Masonic Institutions for the education and maintenance

of the bereaved olr ' spring of our brethren , where I am proud to say they are most amply provided for and the best possible education given them until 16 years of age , and so fitted to play their part in the world to advantage , still having always a helping hand near should necessity require it .

These establishments can , I am sure , be worked better on a large scale , cs we have them , than , as some recommend , smaller and more numerous ones . There is one thing connected with them which I confess I should wish to see altered and that is that instead of calling them " Masonic

Charities , " we sliould designate ; thern Masonic Institutions . I do not like the idea of our orphans being educated as charity children , I can however heartily urge upon you to subscribe to these and other valuable Institutions and those of the brethren , who have not alread y done so ,

I would recommend to pay a visit to them , and also to accept the cilice of Steward at the Anniversaries as a means of becoming better acquainted with them , and also contributing to the funds . Wishing every prosperity to the Masonic Charities , I call upon

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

you to drink to their success . Bro . Thomas Hill , P . M ., P . Prov . G . J . W ., on rising to reply , congratulated the W . M . on his elevation , and said it gives me great pleasure to respond to the toast , so very ably proposed by our Bro . Secretary , and I am much gratified by the excellent

manner in which he has submitted the subject for our consideration , I am proud of my connection with the Benevolent Institutions , and may say for the information ofthe brethren that I always looked upon thc word charity as meaning love , which is its true signification , and

therefore I cannot see much objection to the use of the word . I have to thank the brethren , on behalf of the Institutions , for their aid in the past . The Lodge of Hope feels proud of what it has done , and will do more , and in pressing the claims of the Institutions upon the notice of the

brethren , I trust that those who have not already subscribed to them will do so , " The Retiring Master , " was put down in the printed programme to be proposed by Bro . Michael Rogerson , P . M ., but as he was absent both from the lodge and refreshment-room , it had to be done by deputy

Bro . George Richardson , I . P . M ., in replying to the toast , said , I find myself this evening invested with a new title that of Retiring Master , but though late commander of your forces , I cannot as a retiring general might do , speak to you of successful campaigns and bravely fought

wellwon battles , for 1 have had no enemies to contend with and no battles to li ght , neither have I to regret harvest trodden underfoot , towns sacked and plundered , and men cut down in the prime of life ; on the contrary my year of office has been one of uninterrupted peace aud tranquility , and as

such I look back upon it with pleasure . 1 thank you all for the kindness and consideration you have always shown to me , and the memory of the past year will ever be cherished by me because of the place I haze gained in your esteem , 1 am glad that my place is taken by such a man

as Bro . Broughton and have a spocial pleasure in asking you to drink with me to his health as our W . M . Bro . Broughton was amongst the first of those who tendered me hospitality when some 22 years ago , I came to this town . I congratulate him on the position he has achieved

as W . M ., and am sure that the brethren will find him to be the right man in the right place . Bro . Broughton , W . M ., on rising to respond , was received with great applause , and said I must acknowledge that your enthusiastic expression of feeling towards me aflbrds me high gratification ,

though at the same time it causes me some little embairasment , and I am at a loss for words in which to express my thanks for your hearty reception of this toast , and for the honour you have conferred upon me in placing me in this chair . It is sometimes said that silence is more eloquent

than words , and I cannot say more than that I am deeply sensible of your kindness , and that I oiler you the thanks of a grateful heart . I thank my worthy Bro . George Richardson , for the complimentary terms in which he has been pleased to speak of me in proposing this toast , and I

thank you all , brethren , for the flattering and cordial reception it has met with at your Jiands . I trust you all know me too well to render it necessary that I should enter into any promises as to the future , and I feel a reluctance to make professions which I may not be able to carrv out . I

have , as you know , arrived at a time of life when I do not possess the vigour and other advantages of some of my younger brethren , but I trust that as Master of the Lodge of Hope my conduct will always be such as becomes a true Alason , and that by precept and by example I may do my duty in

endeavouring to maintain and support the genuine principles of Freemasonry . At all events , I may assure you that it will be my constant and earnest endeavour , by a faithful discharge of the duties that may devolve upon me during my year of office , to show myself worthy of the distinguished honoui yiru have cuiifeiicil upon me , and to prove

that your confidence has not been misplaced . I remember that when , six years ago . I had the honour of addressing you in this room for the first time , I stated that it had been my aim through life to gain the good opinion and respect of my fehow men , and I expressed the hope that so long as I mi ght be associated , activel y or otherwise , with this ancient and honourable fraternity , my conduct might always ! bc such as to

Reports Of Masonic Meetings.

entitle me to the confidence and respect of all with whom I might be brought in contact . Brethren , I feel that to-day that hope has been realized , and I will only say further , that as in the past , so in the future , it will be my constant desire and endeavour to put in practice the

principles I have professed ; and I trust that the coming year may be , to all of us , one of profit and of pleasure , of peace and of harmony , of happiness and of prosperity . The W . M . then proposed " The Visiting Brethren , " and in doing so said , the next toast is one which in the Lodge

of Hope is always heartily received , and it affords me peculiar pleasure in proposing " The Visiting Brethren , " I believe I may say without contradiction that the Lodge of Hope has always ^ enjoyed a reputation for hospitality , and for the cordiality with which it has always received brethren of

other lodges , and it gives me much pleasure and gratification in offering a hearty welcome to those visiting brethren who have honoured us with their presence on this occasion . We trust that every one will feel that we are all members of one great family , encompassed by one

encircling cord of brotherly love , and that to good and worthy Masons the Lodge of Hope is always amongst the foremost to hold out the right hand of brotherhood . The following brethren respectively replied to this toast , namely , Bro . Cyrus Brook , W . M . Harmony 6 oo ; F .

Broughton , W . M . Brecknock , 6 51 , P . S . W . South Wales ; ( and brother by consanguinity to the W . M . ) who said : Worshipful Sir , I have great pleasure in congratulating you on your elevation to the high office you now hold . I have known you for about co years , on and off , and I must *

say that the estimation in which you appear to ; be held b y the brethren present , leads me to think that you are even better than I took you to be . If I mi ght say a word to the brethren , it would be that if they let you have a great deal of your own way , as I used

to do , they will find you a very good fellow . Bro . Foster , W . M . elect uf die Pentalpha , 974 , was also called upon , and replied in a few terse sentences . Bro . George Althorpe , W . M . Shakespeare , 1018 , also responded , and after offering his congratulations to the W . M ., suggested that it

would be well if during his year he could arrange matters so that the G . M . might be called upon to come to Bradford to lay the foundation stone of a Masonic Temple —> a fit place in which the brethren might assemble , and be alike worthy of them and the town . Bro . Proctor , W . M .

Eccleshill , 1034 , a ^ responded , as did also Bros . Rev ; R . W . Loosemore anil Thos . Britton , Al . D . 1040 . Other toasts were proposed , namely" The Past Masters ; '' "The Retiring Officers ;" " The Officers , " and the Tyler ' s toast , but we have already given as much space to reporting this meeting as our columns will admit of . We

must not , however , overlook the great pleasure afforded by the admirable execution , on the grand piano , by Bro . Jeremiah Rhodes , P . M ., who had volunteered his services in the unavoidable absence of Bro . F . C . Atkinson , Mus . Bac . Cantab ., Organist to the Lodge ; and also the vocal eflbrts of many of the brethren , which contributed much to the pleasure of all .

HAWORTH . —Lodge of Three Graces ( No . 408 ) . —The members of this Lodge celebrated the festival of St . John the Evangelist on Monday , Dec . ist , 1 S 73 at their lodge rooms , Haworth , on which occasion the Worshi pful Master elect , Bro . Robert Riley , was duly

installed W . M . for the ensuing year . The installing ollicer wss Bro . James Charnock , P . M . of the St . James Lodge , No . 448 , Halifax . Subsequently the W . M . invested the following brethren with the badge of oilice : Bros . Thos . Ogden , S . W . ; J . E . Lambert , J . W . j W . Brown , P . M ., Sec . ,

W . Wood , P . M ., Treasurer ; W . J . Terrell , S . D . ; Edwin Robertson , J . D . ; W . F . Sheckleton , I . G . ; Smith and Holmes , Stewards ; J . Whitham , P . M ., T yler . At the close of the business the brethren adjourned to the Black Bull Hotel , and sat down to dinner , the VV . M . presiding , the vice

chair being filled b y Bro . Thos . O gden , S . W . There were also present visiting brethren from the undernamed lodges , Probity , 61 ; Prudence , 219 ; Royal Yorkshire , 265 ; Prince George , 308 ; Pomfret , 360 ; Scientific , 439 '; St . James ' s 448 ; Savillc , 1231 ; Ryburn / 1283 ; Stas , Philadelphia , United States , The usual loyal and